Moirano scores Franklin Pierce goal

Boxscore

RINDGE, N.H. (October 14, 2008) – Junior forward Nicole Murphy (Dedham, Mass./Dedham) converted on a penalty stroke 5:58 into overtime on Tuesday afternoon to lead No. 6 nationally ranked Bentley to a 2-1 victory over the Franklin Pierce University field hockey team in Northeast-10 Conference play at Sodexo Field. Sophomore midfielder Ashley Moirano (Vero Beach, Fla./South Burlington (Vt.)) scored in the game for Franklin Pierce.

Franklin Pierce scored the only goal of the first half at the 20:24 mark. Senior defender Stephanie Howard (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk) took a shot from outside the circle on the right side. Moirano was positioned in front of the cage and able to deflect the ball just inside the near post to score her second goal in as many games and give the Ravens a 1-0 lead.

Bentley held a slim, 4-3 shots advantage in the first half while Franklin Pierce was awarded all three penalty corners of the opening frame.

Bentley tied the game just 10:37 into the second stanza on a play very similar to Franklin Pierce’s first-half score. Off a penalty corner, junior defender Jenna Panzone (East Falmouth, Mass./Falmouth) ended up with the ball outside the circle on the right side. She sent the ball towards the net and it was deflected inside the near post by freshman forward Stephanie Sideris (Watertown, Mass./Watertown), who scored her second goal of the season to tie the game 1-1.

Bentley held an 8-4 edge in shots and a 4-0 advantage in penalty corners in the second half.

Just under six minutes into overtime, the Franklin Pierce defense was whistled for a foul during a scramble in front of the cage and Bentley was awarded a penalty stroke. Murphy scored her fourth goal of the season as she beat Franklin Pierce freshman goalkeeper Kristin Tormollan (Waterville, Maine/Waterville) high on the left side to give Bentley the 2-1 victory.

Each team was awarded four penalty corners over the course of the game, while Bentley held a 14-7 shots advantage.

Junior goalkeeper Alyssa Sliney (Brewster, Mass./Nauset Regional) made two saves in front of the Bentley cage to earn the victory. Tormollan turned aside eight shots for Franklin Pierce in defeat.

The Ravens (6-9, 6-8 NE-10) return to the field on Thursday, Oct. 16, when they host American International in a Northeast-10 Conference contest. Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Sodexo Field. Bentley (11-5, 11-3 NE-10) returns to action on Oct. 16 at home against Southern Connecticut State.